One of the major research goals of VSU is to support and develop research teams. There are over 40 such research teams at VSU, recognized both in Russia and abroad. They have made a significant impact practically in every research area supported by the University.

Two of these research teams are included in the list of leading academic and scientific schools of the Russian Federation and get financial support from the state. Their research spheres are:

physical chemistry and thin-films, and nanomaterials technology
(Head Researcher – professor V.M. Ievlev, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences);

geodynamics, magmatism and metallogeny of the Early Precambrian history of the Earth
(Head Researcher – professor N.M. Chernyshov, Associate Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences).

There are 13 leading research teams in the University. They are the following.

Atomic and Electron Structure of Condensed Matter and Nanostructures

Head Researcher – Professor Evelina P. Domashevskaya, Doctor of Science (Physics and Mathematics), Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation, Full member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, and Head of the Department of solid-state physics and nanostructures

Topological Methods In Nonlinear Analysis

Founded by Professor Yury G. Borisovich (1930–2007), Doctor of Sciences (Physics and Mathematics), and Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation

Head Researcher – Professor Victor G. Zvyagin, Doctor of Sciences (Physics and Mathematics), Head of the Department of Algebra and Topological Analysis Methods at the Mathematics Faculty

Functional and Construction Materials

Head Researcher – Professor Valentin M. Ievlev, Doctor of Sciences (Physics and Mathematics), Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation, and Head of the Department of Materials Science and the Industry of Nanosystems

Philosophy of Science

Head Researcher – Professor Alexandr S. Kravets, Doctor of Philosophy, Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation, and Head of the Department of Metaphysics and Epistemology at the Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology

Interaction of Optical Radiation with Atoms and Molecules

Founded by professor Lev P. Rapoport (1920–2000), – Doctor of Sciences (Physics and Mathematics), Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation

Head Researcher in the group studying multiply charged ion formation in a strong laser field, and linear and nonlinear susceptibilities of atoms and diatomic molecules – Professor Boris A. Zon, Doctor of Sciences (Physics and Mathematics), Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation, and Head of the Department of Mathematical Physics

Head Researcher in in the group studying harmonic generation, nonlinear ionization, and collisional problems in an intense laser field; atoms in optical lattices; attosecond physics – professor Nikolay L. Manakov, Doctor of Sciences (Physics and Mathematics), Department of Theoretical Physics

Electrochemistry of Metals and Alloys

Founded by Professor Igor K. Marshakov (1928–2012), Doctor of Sciences (Chemistry), Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation, Full Member of the International Academy of Higher Education, and Professor at the Department of Physical Chemistry

General and Russian Linguistics

Head Researcher – professor Zinaida D. Popova, Doctor of Philology (Linguistics), Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation, and Professor at the Department of General Linguistics and Stylistics

East European Forest-steppe Archaeology

Head Researcher – Professor Anatoly D. Pryahin, Doctor of Sciences (History), Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation, and Head of the History of Home Archaeology Centre

Statistical Methods in Theory of Information Transmission and Processing

Head Researcher – Professor Andrey P. Trifonov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation, and Head of the Department of Radiophysics

Chemistry of Solids and Semiconductors

Founded by Professor Yakov A. Ugay (1921–2007), – Doctor of Science (Chemistry), USSR National Prize in Science laureate, and Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation

Head Researcher in the group studying physical and chemical principles of synthesis of solid materials for microelectronics – Professor Yevgeny G. Goncharov, Doctor of Science (Chemistry), and Head of the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry

Geodynamics, Magmatism and Metallogeny of the Early Precambrian History of the Earth

Head Researcher – Professor Nikolay M. Chernyshov, Doctor of Science (geological and mineralogical sciences), Associate Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation, Head of the Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, and Head of the Centre for Research and Education “Geology of ore deposits in Central Russia”

Soil Genesis, Evolution, and Ecology in Central Russia

Founded by Professor Andrey P. Shcherbakov, Doctor of Sciences (Biology), full Member of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Head Researcher – Professor Dmitry I. Shcheglov, Doctor of Sciences (Biology), and Head of the Department of Soil Studies and Agro chemistry

Research in Management

Founded by Professor Vladimir N. Eytington (1924–2014), PhD in Economics, Honored Economist of the Russian Federation, Distinguished Citizen of Voronezh